(Editor's note: The following is a news release from the City of Akron.)

City will help with your neighborhood's event

Neighbors who know one another better tend to build safer overall neighborhoods, according to the city of Akron, which encourages each area to promote their own event for the fifth annual Neighbors Day. The celebration takes place May 28, Memorial Day weekend, and centers around residents getting to know their neighbors better.

"Over the past several years of doing this, we have brought folks together," said Mayor Don Plusquellic. "That's the idea behind Neighbors Day. People living near one another getting to know one another better makes for better, stronger and safer communities in our city."

This year's theme is Living Together Better: Five Years of Strengthening Neighborhoods. Once residents decide their preferred activity, city officials encourage organizers to choose a location, adding they may want to host it on their porch, front yard or driveway.

Activities should take place between noon and 6 p.m., according to the city, which offers a list of possible things to do:

• Invite neighbors over for tea or coffee;
• Have a cookout and invite folks on your block;
• Organize a pot luck picnic or an ice cream socia;l
• Host games or sports for neighbor children (adults can get to know each other while children play);
• Organize a neighborhood cleanup day;
• Weed or plant flowers in a public space or for a neighbor in need; or
• Organize a Neighbors Day Akron street celebration (the city requires an application or permit)

To register for an event, residents may call 3-1-1, Akron's Information Center, between 6:30 a.m. and 11:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. (From any residential phone inside of Akron, press 311; for all other phones, call (330) 375-2311).

Residents may also register and learn more by going to: www.neighborsdayakron.org.

The city cites a number of benefits for registering, including having neighbors be able to locate your event, and city services such as mowing a green space or closing a street. 

And registered Neighbors Day captains are permitted additional trash bags outside of the city-owned containers to be picked up on on the first pickup day after May 28.

Those who take part in Neighbors Day will be given a personal follow-up phone call to assist the city in sharing ideas for subsequent Neighbors Day events.

Akron's Neighbors Day partners include: Acme Fresh Markets, Metro Transit and 1590 WAKR. Brochures will be available at Acme stores, City of Akron neighborhood community centers, Akron-Summit County Public Library branches and on all Metro buses.